Sunday, March 30, 2008

This is a design I did for the Threadless competition. After it did somewhat poorly in the voting, I decided to bleach stencil it using this process. The image was then touched up with fabric pens. I'm pretty pleased with the result.

Action shot:

This will officially be the first item for sale in my Etsy shop, should be up by the end of the day. Enjoy :)

Preheat oven to 350°:FIn a bowl whisk together the flour, almonds, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl with an electric mixer cream together the butter and the sugar, beat in the egg and the almond extract. Then beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, beating well after each addition.

Divide the batter among 12 paper-lined 1/2-cup muffin tins and bake the cupcakes for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean. Turn the cupcakes out onto a rack and let them cool completely.

Ahhh! Why do I always do this? After I spent hours embroidering these pillow cases, I decided that the gold floss just doesn't work. I had doubts at the beginning, but for some reason did not listen to them. Why?!

So, I think I have to rip out all the gold and replace it. I'm thinking ice blue (like the pearl). It seems rather obvious now, these are going on a blue couch, I don't know why I thought gold. What do you think? This is how it would look (yay Gimp)

Friday, March 14, 2008

When I was growing up, my mother had one of those oft-insulted toilet paper cozies. It was crochet or macrame, and it had a face - a cat I think. It was a little silly. But you know what? There was always toilet paper near the toilet when you were doing your business, and that is important.

So I really wanted a toilet paper cozy. I spent some time on Etsy and I found these, by LK Craft Creations. But I couldn't find the color I wanted, and really, the crochet might be a little much.

So I went thrift shopping trying to find a doll, a beat up abandoned Barbie, maybe, and I couldn't find any. It was weird. But I did find that bear, it was a Hallmark bear that sang a terrible song. I gutted her innards, removing the awful music box. I picked some fabric from my scraps that matched my wallpaper, then I sewed the dress and the ruffle and the hat around her.

Her name is Miz Bear, because she may be related to Mistah Bear. I think the hat makes her look very official, like a concierge. A concierge with toilet paper.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

I'm trying to start going to fabric stores that are not Joann Fabrics. Because Joann Fabrics is kind of lame. I just found Sally's Fabrics, in the Fox Hills Mall. There is also a Sally's in the Fashion District, but it is so much easier to park here. They are in the process of moving right now, so everything is 30% off. Which means I spent way to much $$ in order to spend less, sometime in the future. Very sensible, yes?

There are a lot of really nice fabrics here, but not much else. This is a fabric store, not a craft store. The sale prices are great. Unlike Joann's, they have a lot of "real" fabrics - nice linens, silks, and soft cottons for reasonable prices. The staff is friendly and fast. And I like that it is in the same mall as Old Navy, JC Penney, and Forever 21.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

I just bought a giclee print from Terrace Gallery on Etsy. I plan to put it in my living room, somewhere. I've always had movie posters from my oeuvre on the walls, but these are starting to seem pretty uninspired and juvenile. Also, most of these movies suck.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

So I've mentioned that I cosplay. I also drag my husband along on these adventures. He's quite game for it though; he loves to ham it up (see above).

As mentioned before, we forgot our camera, so this photo is culled from flickr. Some random person has a picture of me eating a pretzel... forever. Thanks, flickr!

Geoff's costume is made of swimsuit material, fake leather upholstery, pvc piping, and hand painted acetate wings. I think my favorite part may be his ridiculous facial hair, made out of furry yarn, jewelry wire, and attached with spirit gum. The eyebrows are key!